Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-11-04
The Messengers Ordeal,

w lGQ the I 1CQluSuidT Vdl was dl
its height, General Murat, who was
in command Of the French troops o.
Madrid, desired to send dispatch oi
the gravest importance to General
Junot at Lisbon. The distance was
not great, but the country through
which the messenger would be oblig-
ed to travel was infested by a band
of guerillas who carried on an irregu-
lar warfare on their own account,
much to the. annoyance and detrl
ment of the French army. These
lawless volunteers fought from theil
ambusdades in the forests and noun
tain passes with unparalleled ferocity,
frequently surprising detachments of
the regular army and capturing their
stores and ammunition. The heroic
deeds of Gen. Castanos, the guerilla
commander-in chief, were echoed
throughout Europe, and it was well
known that be gave no quarter to
French prisoners. Therefore Gener-
al Murat could find no soldier desir-
Gus of undertaking an efrand SO
fraught with danger.
In bis dilemma be sought the ad'
vice of Baron Strogancj, the Russ
ian AMBASSADOR, who was friendly
with the French cause.
The Baron, being we'll aware of the
gravity of the situation, deliberated
for several minutes; the result was
the following suggestion: "Send one
of your most reliable Polish lancers
in Russian uniform" he said, with q
verbal message to our Admiral. now
in Lisbon harbor. He, in turn, will
communicate with Junot without
arousing the slightest suspicion on
the part OF the English. NJ doubt
your courier will be arrested score
of times en- route, but as my country
has maintained neutral ground thus
far, it is not probable that tho result
will be fatal. Castanos is too much
of diplomat to risk the displeasure
of Russia, ana by observing the pro-
per caution, it will not be difficult to
deceive him"
General Murat was charmed with
this clever proposition, and at once
ordered the Captain of the Warsaw
Lancers to select from his company
brave, reliable fellow who could be
trusted to undertake the important
mission.
Early on the following day. Lieu
tenant Lackinsky, a young Pole
eighteen years of age, sought audi
ence of the French General, who ex
planned the nature of the service be
required of the youth, without con
cealing the perils it would entail
Lackinsky, nothing daunted, declar.
ed with a contemptuous smile that
he eagerly awaited an opportunity to
prove how little he feared the guer
illas, and he was prepared to set out
at once on his journey.
Pleased with the young Poles en-
thusiasm, as well as with his evident
desire to distinguish himself, the
General repeated with precision the
message to lie carried to Junot..
Baron Stroganoff's Russian dis
patches having been duly secured,
the courier started for the coast, com
pletely armed and disguised in the
uniform of an officer of the Car:
guard.
Nothing of Importance occurred un-
til the afternoon of the second day
when our hero entered de6le in the
mountains near Talavera. He haG
not advanced more than quarter O
a mile when he was met by half 6
dozen guerillas, who, without wait
ing to parley, roughly dra gged hin
from his horse, seized his weapons
and led him to e. chapel in d
cave hard by, where he found
himself face to face with the terrible
Castanos.
who are you?" asked the guerril
la chief. in French, while he angrily
scrutinized the prisoner.
Alive to the danger of his position
Lackinsky's heart failed him for az
instant. but quickly recovering his
presence of mind, he fixed his eyes
on his interlocntor's face with 8
meaningless stare. Presently he an
swered in German. II do not under
stand"
CASTINGS called one of his officers
and requested him to continue the
examination in the prisoners tongue
Observing the utmost caution lest by
an inadvertant expression he might
betray his knowledge of French, the
Pole replied to all the officers ques
tions either in Russian or German
During the examination the chap
ell had become crowded with gueril
las, attracted there by curiosity and
a desire for excitement. Each hung
upon the prisoners words, eager tc
detect the slightest evidence of de-
ception on bis part.
Suddenly there was an interrupt
ion caused by the appearance of Cas-
tanos leading by the arm peasant
whom he placed before the Pole, say.
ing: Look carefully at this man,
and tell Us whether be he Russian,
German, or, as | strongly suspect,
q cursed French spy.n